Obstetric chair and supporter



UNITED STATES ATE T FEIS.

ASA BLOOD, OF JANESVILLE, VISCONSIN.

OBSTETRIC CHAIR AND SUPPORTER.

Speccation of Letters Patent No. 7,590, dated August 27, 1850.

tached from eachother.

My invention consists in dividing the seat of the chair into twosect-ions which are hinged together at their hinder extremities in sucha manner that they can be separated at the front of the seat to form anyrequired angle with each other; and in the several devices connectedwith the chair, which assist in the process of parturition.

The chair, as represented, is composed mainly of a divided seat andback; the former is supported on four legs A, A, A, A, which are eachcomposed of two pieces, the lower a, sliding within the upper, to whichit can be made fast by a clamp screw c, in such manner that the distanceof the seat from the ground can be adjusted to the size of the patient;the lower extremities of the legs are furnished with casters d, to allowt-he chair to be easily moved; the seat is composed of two portions ofside pieces B, B, which are curved and padded to adapt them to theroundness of the limbs of the sitter, and are hinged to each other atthe back of the chair in such manner that their front extremities can beplaced at any required distance apart.

The back C, is hinged to the upper extremity of the pivot e (Figs. 2 and6) of the hinge which connects the side pieces;

it is supported in an upright position by two adjustable straps, cords,or springs f, which connect it with the sides of the chair, and whichoppose themselves to the pressure of the back of the patient. A headcushion D is attached to the upper extremity of a bar g which isarranged to slide in the frame of the back of the chair in such a mannerthat it can be adjusted to the height of the patients head. In order tosupport the small of the back a cushion E, is suspended by straps it 7L,from the upper edge of the back of the chair. Each leg of the sitter issupported when necessary by a cushion secured to the outer extremity ofa spring frame sliding beneath the seat so that the cushion may be drawnout to any required distance from the seat or may be `shoved up againstits front edge at will.

The feet of the patient are supported in slippers F F, which aresuspended from the front extremities of the sides of the chair byadjustable straps a', z', 'these pass through a ring or pulley securedto the slipper thus allowing the latter to be moved in any direct-ion atwill. As pressure upon the abdomen is of great advantage in the processof parturition it is applied by means of a broad band or brace G whichis attached to the extremities of a pair of straps 7c, these proceedingbackward to pulleys or rings Z (Figs. G and 7) secured to the hinderpart of the seat, are thence returned forward and are passed through'pulleys or rings Z Z secured to the slippers, whence they are turnedupward; their free extremities being each furnished with a stirrup H towhich the hands of the patient are applied.

Cases frequently arise where the patient is from weakness unable toapply the necessary pressure; in such cases the straps instead of beingattached to stirrups, should be wound upon the spindle of a winch towhich the hand of the operator is applied to wind up the straps and thusproduce the requisite pressure. A flannel hammock I is suspended fromthe seat to receivethe new born infant, and a water proof sack K isadded to receive the evacuations of the patient.

It will be perceived that the chair thus constructed adapts itself tothe varying positions of the members of the sitter and supports thelimbs while the efforts of nature are assisted by the abdominal brace.The yielding of the adjustable elastic straps should be controlled byunelastic cords which will prevent the movements of the back or of theslippers beyond fixed limits; the distance to which the two divisions ofthe seat open must also be limited either by straps or by theconstruction of the hinge.

The chair may be adapted to domestic purposes by securing the divisionsof the seat close to each other and inserting a supplementary seat.I/Vhen the chair is to be conveyed from place to place the straps areunbuckled thus allowing the back to be lifted off from the seat, and asthe back is attached to the pivot of the hinge which connects the twodivisions of the seat, these will be disconnected; the legs of the seatwhich are hinged can be folded up and the whole can then be packed awayin a small space.

The several members of the chair may be made of such materials as theconstructor may select but I prefer to construct the frame of cast iron,that being in my opinion the most suitable material for the purpose.

Vhat I claim in the foregoing as my invention and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1.'.An Obstetric chair with its seat comsubscribed myname.

ASA BLOOD.

IVitnesses:

E. S. RENWICK, P. H. WATSON.

